15:33 04 February 2013
MP Chris Huhne, aged 58, has pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justicein court on Monday, and has said he will resign from his post. The Lib-Dem man had previously said he was not guilty of the charges against him.
The case relates to claims that Mr. Huhne’s then wife, Ms. Pryce, accepted speeding pointson behalf of the MP. This concerns an incident which took place in 2003.
Mr. Huhne told reporters: “Having taken responsibility for something that happened 10 years ago, the only proper course of action for me is to resign my Eastleigh seat in Parliament, which I will do shortly.”
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has admitted he was “shocked and saddened” by the news, but that he thought Mr. Huhne was acting accordingly with regards to his decision.
It is thought by some that the MP could face time in jail over the incident as this type of offence – which relates to perverting the court of justice – can carry a sentence of time being spent in prison.
Mr. Huhne and his ex-wife Ms. Pryce faced charges from police in 2012, following a speed camera supposedly catching Mr. Huhne’s car breaking the motorway speed limit one decade ago.